xlii 



Part I. — Twenty-fifth Annual Report 



Herrings. 



Herrings— Although over one-half of a million cwts. of herrings was placed 

 Comparison 0 n the fresh markets during the year, the actual quantity shows 

 Tears PreV1 ° Uh on h r a fractional percentage of increase on the return for 1905 — 



a contrast to the increase in value, which reaches as much as 29 



per cent. 



Priee per cwt. The value returned yields a mean price of 6s. 8d. per cwt., com- 

 pared with 5s. 2d. per cwt. in 1905. and an average of 6s. 2d, in 

 the years 1900-4. 



The supplies provided by the West Coast exceeded those of the 

 preceding year by 18 per cent. On the other hand, the returns 

 for the East Coast show a contraction to the extent of 9 per cent. 



The districts more closely identified with the West Coast 

 increase embrace, in the order of their importance, Rothesay, 

 Ballantrae, and Greenock ; while on the East Coast there are also 

 excesses in the case of Peterhead, of greater amount, and in that 

 of Findhorn, Stonehaven, and Buckie, of less amount. 



Among a number of district shortcomings involving the three 

 geographical divisions, the more notable are accounted for, in the 

 order given, by Campbeltown, Stornoway, and the three most 

 southern districts on the eastern seaboard. 



Cured. 



FISH CURED. 

 I. — Herrings. 



Demand ^h e p r0 crress of the curing industrv is dependent in lame measure 



on the result of the different herring fisheries prosecuted round the 

 Scottish coast, as its success is usually in proportion to the quantity 

 of herrings landed. The demand for cured herrings is greatly on 

 the increase, particularly in Russia and Germany, and, in lesser 

 degree, in America. While the returns for 1906 fall short of the 

 record figures of 1905, they compare favourably with those recorded 

 in average seasons. (App. D, No. I.) 

 Total Herrings The total quantity of herrings cured was a little short of two 

 million barrels, the exact figures being 1.997,862 barrels, as com- 

 pared w T ith 2,111,601 barrels in 1905. The falling-off was due 

 entirely to a decline in the catch of over one hundred thousand 

 crans, and is more than accounted for by a decrease of 323,982 

 barrels in the Shetland returns. 



The East Coast returns, on the other hand, show an increase of 

 243,167 barrels, and it has regained the pride of place which it had 

 resigned in 1905 in favour of Shetland. 



Although the set-back in Shetland is a rather serious one, still 

 there is no cause for despondency regarding the future, as the 

 check in the progress of herring-curing there is probably only 

 temporary. A somewhat similar check took place in 1902, but the 

 improvement in the succeeding years till last year was unbroken 

 and phenomenal, as will be seen from the following figures : — 



East Coast 

 Returns. 



Shetland 

 Return^. 





Barrels. 





Barrels. 



1896 - 



149,355 



1902 - 



486,745 



1897 - 



177,018 



1903 - 



489,654 



1898 - 



266,791 



1904 - 



814,839 



1899 - 



354,545 



1905 - 



- 1,024,044 



1900 - 



416,789 



1906 - 



700,062 



1901 - 



636,729 







